The Female Red Banner Blenny has a dark bar at the base of its pectoral fin, a reddish brown head with dark speckles, translucent body, and a tall white and black banded first dorsal spine. They are found occasionally in St. Vincent to the north coast of South America, including inshore islands. Not reported in the balance of the Caribbean…..hummmm, until now Small aggregations of Red Banner Blennies inhabit reefs and areas of rocky rubble. Breeding males darken to nearly black and move to small holes or recesses where they can perch, with their heads extended, and occasionally dart forward to raise and display their brilliant foredorsal fin. Red Banner Blennies are relatively unafraid of divers, retreating into holes only when closely approached.

Photograph by Marijke HelfensteijnMarijke is a Divemaster, Orthoptist & Optometrist born in the Netherlands, studying at YWAM Destination Paradise on Ambergris Caye.